^tatt  of  'Xt^xfgiMovU* 


No.  162. 


IN  ASSEMBLY,  MAR.  27, 1850. 


KEPORT 

Of  the  committee  on  commerce  and  navigation  on  the 
petitions  for  an  increase  of  the  rates  of  wharfage  in 
the  cities  of  New-York  and  Brooklyn. 

Mr.  Varnum,  from  the  committee  on  commerce  and  navigation, 
to  Avhich  was  referred  the  petitions  of  William  H.  Imlay,  Charles 
Kelsey,  Daniel  Richards,  James  I.  Jones,  and  others,  citizens  of 
New-York  and  Brooklyn,  for  an  increase  in  the  rates  of  wharfage  in 
those  cities,  with  a  bill  in  relation  thereto,  and  the  remonstrances 
of  Grinnell,  Minturn  &  Co.,  Charles  H.  Marshall,  J.  L.  Sturges, 
and  others,  against  the  same, 

REPORTS: 

That  they  have  endeavored  to  give  the  subject  as  careful  a  con- 
sideration as  the  circumstances  would  allow.  For  a  long  time  after 
the  bill  was  referred  they  were  without  such  information  as  would 
enable  them  to  express  a  decided  opinion,  and  the  bill  was  twice  re- 
committed for  the  purpose  of  hearing  new  statements.  They  pro- 
ceed to  lay  before  the  House  the  reasonings  on  both  sides,  as  cor- 
rectly as  is  possible  considering  the  desultory  manner  in  which  the 
subject  was  presented  to  them. 

The  law  now  in  force  regulating  the  rates  of  wharfage  in  the 
port  of  New-'iork,  was  passed  on  the  31st  of  March,  1801,  and 
was  confirmed  by  an  act  passed  April  19th,  1813. 

[Assembly,  No.  162.  |  1  •  [u.n.] 


» 


2 


[Assembly 


The  petitioners  comment  upon  the  long  period  which  has  elapsed 
since  these  acts  were  passed,  and  allege  that  they  should  form  no 
criterion  by  which  to  form  an  opinion  upon  this  question,  because 
they  were  enacted  during  the  war  with  England,  while  our  com- 
merce was  prostrated,  and  our  vessels  lying  idle  at  the  piers.  That 
since  these  rates  were  established  the  rents  of  all  other  property  in 
the  vicinity  have  advanced  300  per  cent.  That  then  the  wharves 
were  of  small  dimensions,  inferior  description  and  cost  but  a  small 
sum  to  build,  whereas  now  a  large  portion  are  very  wide,  extend 
out  a  great  distance  into  deep  water,  built  in  a  very  expensive  man- 
ner, and  in  every  respect  better  fitted  for  the  accommodation  of  ves- 
sels and  shippers  of  merchandise.  That  the  owners  are,  however, 
forced  to  build  them  of  wood,  in  consequence  of  the  small  revenue 
derived  from  them,  which  will  not  justify  the  use  of  a  more  expen- 
sive and  less  perishable  material,  and  that  the  action  of  worms, 
waves,  the  weather,  the  drift  ice,  and  the  use  of  horses  in  loading 
and  unloading  vessels  renders  them  liable  to  go  to  decay  very  rapid- 
ly, and  to  require  frequent  and  extensive  repairs.  That  the  slips 
and  basins  require  to  be  frequently  excavated  and  the  mud  removed, 
so  as  to  afford  a  sufficient  depth  of  water  at  all  tides  to  float  the 
vessels  that  occupy  them,  and  that  the  introduction  of  the  Croton 
water  and  the  consequent  wash  of  the  waste  of  the  city  into  the  ba- 
sins greatly  increases  the  accumulations,  and  the  expenditure  in 
removing  them.  That  vessels  are  loaded  and  unloaded  in  less  than 
half  the  time  previously  consumed,  the  consequence  of  which  is  that 
the  pine  planks,  with  which  the  piers  are  covered,  are  worn  out  on 
the  surface  in  one  half  the  time  they  were  formerly,  the  traffic  upon 
them  being  double.  That  the  expense  of  keeping  the  piers  clean 
has,  during  the  last  few  years,  been  thrown  on  the  owners,  although 
the  piers  have  been  assessed  and  taxed  the  same  as  other  real  estate, 
the  fronts  of  which  have  been  cleaned  and  swept  out  of  the  general 
tax.  That  shipping,  now  visiting  the  port,  have  not  half  accommo- 
dation enough  to  take  in  and  discharge  cargo,  and  that  it  is  a 
matter  of  common  occurrence  for  vessels  to  lay  a  week  outside  of 
other  vessels  waiting  for  their  turn  to  obtain  berths  at  the  piers  to 
discharge  their  cargoes,  in  the  mean  time  paying  half  wharfage,  at  a 
great  sacrifice  to  the  owners  of  goods  and  vessels.  That  the  cause 
of  this  difficulty  lies  in  the  low  rates  of  wharfage,  which  offers  no 
inducements  to  the  owners  of  water  fronts  to  build  nev/  piers  or  to 
extend  old  ones,  and  that  improvements  of  this  kind  are  only  under- 
taken through  coercion  of  tiie  city  authorities,  and  not  from  the 
choice  of  the  owners.  That  a  large  number  of  piers  are  owned  by 
the  city,  and  <hat  the  income  does  not  on  an  average  reach  three  per 


No.  162.] 


3 


cent  on  their  cost,  after  deducting  expenses.  The  comptroller  of  the 
city  reported,  a  few  years  since,  that  it  amounted  to  about  two  per 
cent.  The  mayor,  in  his  message  this  year,  sets  it  down  at  about 
2|  per  cent.  That  the  per  centage  paid  by  owners  to  wharfingers, 
being  never  less  than  ten  per  cent  absorbs  a  considerable  part  of 
their  revenue.  In  conclujsion  the  petitioners  asked  for  an  increase 
of  about  33J  per  cent,  as  in  the  schedule  and  bill  annexed,  a  rate 
which  it  w^as  said  would  be  less  than  that  in  most  other  cities  by 
one-fourth.     (Appendix  A.  and  B  ) 

In  reply  to  these  statements,  it  is  urged  by  the  remonstrants  that 
the  acto  of  1801  and  1813,  fixing  the  rates  of  wharfage,  were  passed 
with  especial  reference  to  the  injurious  effects  on  the  commerce  of 
other  cities  in  this  country  and  Europe,  arising  from  high  wharf- 
age. That  the  control  over  the  rates  of  ^vharfage  has  been  reserved 
by  the  Legislature  in  order  to  prevent  the  commerce  of  the  city  from 
being  subject  to  the  cupidity  of  the  proprietors,  and  on  the  principle 
that  the  use  of  the  rivers  should  not  be  monopolized  for  the  benefit 
of  individual  owners  of  water-rights.  That  it  was  purposely  inten- 
ded to  prevent  the  rates  of  wharfage  being  subject  to  the  same 
variance  with  the  rates  of  stores  and  other  property  in  the  vicinity, 
since  it  must  be  obvious  that  to  regulate  the  former  by  the  latter 
would  be  most  ruinous  to  the  commerce  of  the  city.  That  it  is  true 
more  extended  piers  have  been  required,  but  the  commerce  of  the 
city  in  th#  business  sections  has  increased  in  so  much  greater  pro- 
portion than  the  wharf  accommo.dations  that  an  owner  receives  a 
much  larger  wharfage  on  the  same  extent  of  pier  now  than  formerly; 
the  wharves  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  being  every  year  more  and 
more  crowded,  with  several  tiers  of  vessels  lying  on  each  side,  and-  at 
the  ends,  from  all  which  wharfage  is  collected.  That  according  to 
the  petitioners  own  showing,  vessels  can  load  and  unload  in  one-half 
the  time  formerly  consumed,  which  proves  that  the  piers  can  accom- 
modate at  least  double  the  number  they  could  formerly,  and,  if  the 
means  used  to  load  and  unload  wears  out  the  planks,  it  also  enables 
owners  to  collect  wharfage  in  proportion.  That  there  is  only  a 
certain  limit  to  which  the  piers  can  be  built  out,  and  the  owners  are 
mostly  finding  it  for  their  interest  to  extend  them  to  that  limit,  even 
with  the  present  rates.  That  if  their  incomes  are  really  so  low  as 
they  represent,  the  increase  proposed  would  not  be  enough  to  induce 
any  large  expenditures,  while  it  would  be  a  heavy  burden  on  the 
shippers,  who  would  rather  submit  to  the  delays  and  inconveniences, 
great  as  they  are,  which  now  exist,  than  pay  an  increased  rate. 
That  there  are  two  classes  of  wharf-owneri,  first,  those  who  have 


r 

^fl^.    •        ,  '4  [AsSEMBLT 

long  owned  the  land  fronting  •  the  rivers,  and,  secondly,  those  who 
have  purchased  interests  in  piers  and  bulkheads.  That  the  first  class 
have  gained  from  the  water  a  large  amount  of  landed  property,  in 
consequence  of  the  filling  in  of  the  piers,  than  which  no  property  in 
the  city  is  more  valuable,  and  the  owners  in  many  instances  have 
become  wealthy  from  this  source  alone.  That  these  have  no  right 
to  complain  that  their  water-rights  have  yielded  no  returns,  and 
would  be  paying  cheaply  for  the  accessions  thus  obtained,  if  they 
expended  the  whole  of  their  wharfage  on  the  piers.  That  the  second 
class  of  owners  have  purchased  these  water-rights  at  prices  predi- 
cated upon  the  existing  rates  of  wharfage,  and  there  is  no  reason 
why  the  Legislature  should  increase  their  incomes,  since,  even  if  the 
rates  of  wharfage  should  not  be  as  profitable  as  they  wish,  they 
knew  what  they  were  when  they  made  their  investments,  and  have 
no  right  to  complain.  That,  if  the  Legislature  should  require  indi- 
vidual owners  to  make  a  return  of  the  wharfages  received,  and  of 
the  cost  of  the  piers  and  bulkheads,  situated  in  the  business  part  of 
the  city,  they  would  be  found  to  yield  large  returns  on  the  capital 
invested.  That  this  is  to  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  this  kind  of 
property  is  rarely  offered  for  sale,  and  is  more  difficult  to  be  bought 
than  any  other.  That  some  of  the  charges  in  the  proposed  bill 
would  be  very  onerous,  such  as  that  for  the  use  of  horses  ;  and  that 
the  tax  would  be  very  great  in  the  thousands  of  vessels  visiting  the 
port,  since  if  the  piers  were  all  extended  to  the  utmost  length  allowed 
by  law,  they  could  not  then  accommodate  the  shipping  which,  in  the 
business  wards,  would  have  to  lay  ^  outside  and  pay  half  wharfage 
while  waiting  for  berths;  whereas,  in  other  cities  there  being  plenty 
of  wharf  room  and  less  demand  for  it,  shippers  can  afford  to  pay  a 
larger  rate,  because  they  discharge  their  cargoes  at  once,  and  pay  no 
half  wharfage.  That,  in  this  way,  vessels  frequently  pay  less  wharf- 
age in  other  ports  where  the  rates  are  higher  than  in  JVew-York. 

That  the  wharves  owned  by  the  city  are  managed  with  reference 
to  other  interests  than  that  of  obtaining  the  greatest  amount  of  in- 
come, and  that  there  is  great  loss  from  the  building  of  piess  for  the 
accommodation  of  parts  of  the  city  where  there  is  but  little  com- 
merce to  support  them,  and,  though  there  have  been  some  lavish  ex- 
penditures in  this  way,  it  is  probably  the  best  policy  to  expend  the 
income  in  extending  these  accommodations  and  inviting  business  to 
the  city. 

The  petitioners  sustain  their  statements  by  reference  to  the  cost 
and  income  of  some  of  the  best  wharves  in  the  city,  (appendix  C,) 


No.  162.]  6 

and  by  the  statements  of  many  highly  respectable  individuals,  but 
these  statements  do  not  exhibit  the  income  of  the  piers  from  the  date 
of  one  enlargement  to  another  in  as  complete  a  manner  as  could  be 
desired,  and  if  they  did  they  are  but  isolated  cases,  and  the  com- 
mittee feel  that  they  are  not  evidence  of  sufficient  weight  to  sustain 
the  declaration  upon  which  so  important  an  act  of  legislation  is 
asked,  especially  when  the  objections  which  are  urged  by  the  re- 
monstrants are  considered,  many  of  which  have,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  committee,  much  force.  These  objections  were  sustained  in 
part  by  a  large  number  of  cases  in  which  wharf  property  was 
shown  to  have  been  directly  or  indirectly  a  means  of  large  revenue 
to  the  owners,  and  by  certain  statistics  which  are  embodied  in  the 
appendix.    (Appendix  D.) 

While  the  committee  are  inclined  to  give  weight  to  the  assertions 
of  the  petitioners  they  are  not  prepared  to  recommend  a  compliance 
with  their  prayer  until  more  conclusive  and  reliable  evidence  shall 
be  furnished,  as  to  the  real  value  and  income  of  wharf  property. 
They  agree  with  the  remonstrants  in  the  opinion  that  the  interests 
of  individuals  are  not  to  be  consulted  any  further  than  a  promotion 
of  their  interests  will  tend  to  promote  those  of  the  public.  The  only 
question  involved  seems  to  be  this — "  Will  an  increase  of  the  rates 
of  wharfage  tend  to  increase  the  wharf  accommodations  and  the 
benefit  of  commerce?" 

9 

The  committee  are  decidedly  of  the  opinion  that  the  only  way  of 
settling  this  question  and  satisfactorily  disposing  of  the  subject  which 
has  occupied  much  of  the  time  of  former  Legislatures,  is  by  appoint- 
ing a  committee  of  three  or  five  members  of  the  Assembly  to  meet 
in  New-York  during  the  recess,  after  giving  notice  in  the  public  pa- 
pers of  the  time  and  place  of  meeting  to  all  the  parties  interested. 
Five  or  ten  days  would  suffice  to  examine  wharfingers  and  others  who 
could  give  information  on  the  subject,  and  reduce  to  the  form  of  posi- 
tive testimony  all  the  matters  bearing  on  the  question. 

No  one  bill  has  been  more  earnestly  urged  for  the  last  three  years, 
and  it  will  probably  continue  to  be  urged  until  some  action  is  taken, 
which  will  dispose  of  it  one  way  or  the  other. 

Independently  of  the  question  as  to  increase  of  wharfage,  there  are 
other  details  in  the  bill  to  provide  for  its  collection,  which  in  the 
opinion  of  some  members  of  the  committee,  are  open  to  serious  ob- 
jections ;  and  it  is  submitted  as  an  additional  reason  for  a  select 


6 


[Assembly 


committee,  that  the  details  of  any  bill  which  may  become  a  law 
should  be  such  as  to  attain  the  object  proposed  without  any  unneces- 
sary restrictions  or  impositions  on  those  who  use  the  wharves,  and 
that  such  a  bill  can  only  be  framed  after  a  careful  consultation  with 
all  the  parties  interested. 

For  these  reasons  the  committee  report  adversely  to  the  passage  of 
the  bill,  and  recommend  the  passage  of  the  following  resolution: 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  sit  during  the 
recess  in  the  city  of  New -York,  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of 
increasing  the  rates  of  wharfage  in  that  port,  and  to  report  thereon 
by  bill  or  otherwise,  to  the  next  Legislature.  They  shall  give  reasonable 
notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  their  meeting  by  publication  in  at 
least  two  of  the  daily  papers  published  in  the  city  of  New-York,  re- 
questing all  persons  interested  to  appear  before  them  at  that  time, 
and  furnish  all  evidence  relating  to  the  subject';  said  committee  shall 
be  entitled  to  compensation  for  their  services,  for  a  session  not  ex- 
ceeding ten  days,  and  the  usual  mileage  allowed  to  members  of  the 
Legislature. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

JOSEPH  B.  VARNUM,  Jr., 
W.  LEWIS,  Jr., 
C.  VANDERZEE, 
JOHN  L.  DOX. 


(A.) 


Rates  of  wharfage  noio  collected 
at  the  port  of  JVew-York,  as 
authorised  by  an  act  of  the  Le- 
gislature, passed  April  9,  18 13; 


$  c 

Vessels  under  50  tons 

,  per  day. 

50 

(( 

over 

tt  tt 

and  under 

100  tons, 

621 

n 

(( 

100  "  " 

«  150  " 

75 

tt 

ft 

150  «  " 

«  200  « 

871 

t< 

200  "  " 

tt  250 

1  00' 

<t 

tt 

250  "  " 

300  " 

1  121 

(( 

tt 

300  "  " 

"  350  " 

1  25 

e( 

tt 

350  ««  " 

<f  400  <f 

1  371 

K 

tt 

400  «  " 

«  450 

1  50 

(( 

ft 

450  "  " 

«  500  " 

1  621 

a 

( ( 

500  «  " 

«  550  *f 

1  75 

<< 

tt 

550 

600  « 

1  871 

The  law  of  1813  says,  all  vessels  over 
600  tons,  additional  12^  cents  may  be 
charged  on  every  50  tons. 


Rates  of  icharfage  in  JYew-York, 

New-York. 
Present  rates. 


Under  30  f ons,  .50 

30  to  50    "  .50 

50  to  75    "  .62J 

75  to  100  "  .62i 

100  to  150'*  •  .75 
150  to  200 .87  J 


$3,871 

Jilbany, 

Under  30  tons,  .37^ 

30  to  50    "  $1.00 

50  to  75    "  1.36 

75  to  100  "  2.18 

100  to  150  "  3.12 

150  to  200  "  4.37i 


$12.41 


Rates  of  wharfage  as  proposed  to 
be  increased,  and  prayed  for  in 
the  petition  of  inhabitants  of 
Brooklyn,  January  25,  1850: 

$  c 

This  class  to  remain,  50 

tt     tt  it 

To  be  increased  to  1  (X) 

"  1  16 

"  1  34 

"  1  50 
1  66 

.  1  83 

«  2  00 

«  2  16 

"  2  34 

"  2  50 
To  be  increased  to  16  cents  on  every 
additional  50  tons.  * 


Albany  and  Troy,  March,  1850. 

Jfew-York. 
Proposed  rates. 


Under  30  tons,  .40 

30  to  50    "  ,60 

50  to  75    "  .70 

75  to  100  "  .80 

300  to  150"  $1.C0 

150  to  200  "  1.20 


$4.70 

Troy, 

Under  30  tons,  37J 

30  to  50    "  57 

50  to  75    "  78 

75  to  100  "  $1.09 

100  to  150  "  1.56 

150  to  200  "  2.19 


$6.56 


(B.) 


Copy  of  the  hill  proposed  by  petitioners. 

AN  ACT 

For  the  better  regulation  of  wharfage  and  the  use  of 
wharves  and  slips  in  the  city  of  New- York  and 
Brooklyn. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  JVew-York,  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly^  do  enact  as  follows : 

Section  1.  It  shall  be  lawful  for  the  owner  or  owners  of  any  one 
or  more  wharves,  piers  or  bulkheads  in  the  city  of  New-York  or 
Brooklyn,  to  ask  and  receive  to  his  and  to  their  own  use  wharfage 
at  the  following  rates  :  For  all  ships  or  vessels  using  his  or  their 
wharves,  piers  or  bulkheads,  or  any  of  them,  and  occupying  an  in- 
side berth,  that  is  to  say,  for  every  ship  or  other  vessel  under  the 
burthen  of  thirty  tons,  forty  cents  per  day  ;  for  every  ship  or  other 
vessel  of  the  burthen  of  thirty  tons,  and  under  the  burthen  of  fifty 
tons,  sixty  cents  per  day  ;  for  every  ship  or  other  vessel  of  the 
burthen  of  fifty  tons,  and  under  the  burthen  of  seventy-five  tons, 
seventy  cents  per  day  ;  for  ever^  ship  or  other  vessel  of  the  burthen 
of  seventy-five  tons  and  under  the  burthen  of  ong  hundred  tons,  eighty 
cents  per  day  ;  for  every  ship  or  vessel  of  the  burthen  of  one  hun- 
dred tons  and  under  the  burthen  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  one 
dollar  per  day  ;  for  every  ship  or  other  vessel  of  the  burthen  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  tons  and  under  the  burthern  of  two  hundred  tons, 
one  dollar  and  twenty  cents  per  day  ;  for  every  ship  or  other  vessel 
of  the  burthen  of  two  hundred  tons  and  under  the  burthen  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  tons,  one  dollar  and  forty  cents  per  day  ;  for  every 
ship  or  other  vessel  of  the  burthen  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  tons  and 
under  the  burthen  of  three  hundred  tons,  one  dollar  and  sixty  cents 
per  day  ;  for  every  ship  or  other  vessel  of  the  burthen  of  three  hun- 
dred tons  and  under  the  burthen  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  one 
dollar  and  eighty  cents  per  day  ;  for  every  ship  or  other  vessel  of 
the  burthen  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  tons  and  under  the  burthen  of 
four  hundred  tons,  two  dollars  per  day  ;  for  every  ship  or  other  ves- 
sel of  the  burthen  of  four  hundred  tons  and  under  the  burthen  of 


No.  362.] 


9 


four  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  two  dollars  and  twenty  cents  per  day  ; 
for  every  ship  or  other  vessel  of  the  burthen  of  four  hundred  and 
fifty  tons  and  under  the  burthen  of  five  hundred  tons,  two  dollars 
and  forty  cents  per  day  ;  for  every  ship  or  other  vessel  of  the  burthen 
of  five  hundred  tons  and  under  the  burthen  of  five  hundred  and  fifty 
tons,  two  hundred  and  sixty  cents  per  day  ;  for  every  ship  or  other 
vessel  of  the  burthen  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  tons  and  under  the 
burthen  of  six  hundred  tons,  two  dollars  and  eighty  cents  per  day  ; 
and  for  every  ship  or  other  vessel  of  the  burthen  of  six  hundred  tons 
and  upwards,  twenty  cents  in  addition  for  every  fifty  tons,  in  addition 
to  the  rate  last  mentioned,  for  every  day  such  ship  or  other  vessel  shall 
use  or  be  made  fast  to  any  of  the  said  wharves,  piers  or  bulkheads; 
all  such  tonnage  to  be  computed  by  custom  house  measurement  of 
the  United  States.  Nothing  in  this  act  contained  shall  be  so  con- 
strued as  to  increase  or  in  any  manner  affect  the  rates  heretofore  es- 
tablished by  law  to  be  paid  for  wharfage  of  any  boat  or  other  craft 
navigating  any  of  the  canals  belonging  to  this  state. 

§  2.  It  shall  be  lawful  for  such  owner  or  owners  of  any  one  or 
more  wharves,  piers  or  bulkheads  in  either  of  said  cities,  to  ask  and 
receive  for  his  or  their  own  use  for  wharfage  of  all  ships  or  other 
vessels  propelled  by  steam  using  his  or  their  wharves,  piers  or  bulk- 
heads, or  any  of  them,  thirty-three  and  one-third  per  cent  on  the 
rates  of  wharfage  above  provided  in  addition  to  such  rates. 

§  3.  For  every  ship  or  other  vessel  occupying  an  outside  berth 
one-half  of  the  rates  above  provided  shall  be  asked  and  no  more. 

§  4.  Wharfage  shall  be  due  daily  in  advance,  and  the  first  day's 
wharfage  shall  be  due  as  soon  as  the  ship  or  other  vessel  shall  be 
fastened  to  her  berth. 

§  5.  For  every  ship  or  vessel  that  shall  use  horse  power  on  any 
wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead  in  taking  in  or  discharging  cargo,  ballast  or 
other  articles,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Owner  or  owners  of  such 
wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead  to  ask  and  receive  for  his  or  ttieir  own  use 
in  addition  to  the  rates  of  wharfage  above  provided  the  sum  of  one 
dollar  per  day  for  each  horse  so  used,  to  be  recovered  as  an  addition- 
al wharfage. 

§  6.  It  shall  be  lawful  for  any  owner  of  any  one  or  more  piers, 
wharves  or  bulkheads  in  either  of  said  cities  to  appoint  a  person  to 
be  wharfinger  thereof,  and  the  joint  owners  or  the  owners  in  com- 

[ABsembly,  No.  162.]  2 


10 


[ASSKMBL? 


mon  of  any  one  or  more  piers,  wharves  or  bulkheads,  or  the  different 
owners  of  any  one  or  more  sections  of  any  one  or  more  wharves, 
piers  or  bulkheads,  as  also  any  one  or  more  other  parties  interested 
therein,  may  unite  in  appointing  a  person  to  be  wharfinger  thereof. 
The  wharfinger  so  appointed  shall  continue  to  be  such  during  the 
pleasure  of  the  person  or  persons  appointing  him,  and  he  may  either 
in  his  own  name  or  in  the  name  or  names  of  the  parties  interested, 
ask,  demand,  sue  for,  levy,  recover  and  receive  the  wharfage  as  it 
shall  become  due,  and  also  the  other  sums  of  money  and  forfeitures 
hereinafter  mentioned. 

§  7.  The  master  of  every  ship  or  vessel  shall  be  liable  for  the 
wharfage  thereof.  The  owner  or  owners  thereof  shall  be  liable 
therefor;  and  the  factor  or  factors  to  w^hom  any  ship  or  other  vessel 
shall  be  consigned,  shall  also  be  liable  therefor.  But  such  factor  or 
factors  shall  not  be  liable,  unless  an  account  in  writing  of  the  wharf- 
age due  shall  be  delivered  to  such  factor  or  factors,  or  if  absent  to 
some  person  at  the  place  of  business  or  residence  of  such  factor  or 
factors,  or  of  one  of  them,  and  the  amount  of  wharfage  demanded  of 
the  person  with  whom  such  account  shall  be  left  before  the  departure 
of  such  ship  or  vessel  from  the  port;  'and  in  any  suit  or  proceeding 
to  recover  wharfage,  it  shall  not  be  necessary  to  join  any  of  the 
said  persons  so  declared  liable,  except  that  on  the  liability  as  owner 
all  the  owners  shall  be  joined,  where  there  are  more  than  one  owner, 
and  excepting  that  on  the  liability  as  factor  all  the  factors  shall  be 
joined  where  there  are  more  than  one  factor. 

§  8.  When  any  ship  or  other  vessel  shall  have  been  fastened  in 
her  berth  at  any  wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead,  in  either  of  the  said  cities, 
and  the  master  or  any  owner  or  factor  thereof  refuses  or  neglects  to 
pay  the  wharfage  due  as  aforesaid  or  refuses  to  give  satisfactory  security 
for  the  payment  of  the  same,  being  thereunto  required  by  the  owner 
or  owners,  oi-  parties  interested  in  such  wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead,  or 
by  the  wharfinger  thereof,  by  notice  in  writing  left  on  board  with 
the  mate  or  one  of  the  hands  belonging  to  such  vessel,  it  shall  and 
may  be  lawful  for  the  owner  or  owners,  or  parties  interested  in  such 
wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead,  or  for  the  wharfinger  thereof,  forthwith  to 
di  4rain  for  such  wharfage  on  such  ship  or  vessel,  or  its  furniture, 
and  so  from  time  to  time  as  often  as  a  day's  wharfage  shall  become 
due  as  aforesaid;  and  the  goods  and  chattels  so  distrained,  to  sell  and 
dispose  of  in  the  same  manner  as  provided  in  the  case  of  rent,  be- 
fore the  passage  of  the  act  entitled  "An  act  to  abolish  distress  for 
rent  and  for  other  purposes,"  passed  May  13,  1846;  and  the  said 


No.  362.] 


11 


act  entitled  ''An  act  to  abolish  distress  for  rent  and  for  other  purpo- 
ses," passed  May  13,  1846,  is  hereby  repealed,  so  far  as  it  relates  to 
such  wharfage  in  either  of  said  cities. 

§  9.  Every  master  or  owner  of  any  ship  or  vessel  about  to  take 
in  or  discharge  from  such  ship  or  vessel  any  ballast  shall  place  a 
sufficient  tarpauling  or  other  suitable  covering  to  extend  from  the 
ship  or  vessel  over  upon  the  wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead  to  keep  such 
ballast  from  falling  into  the  slip  or  water,  and  the  master  or  owner 
neglecting  so  to  do  shall  for  his  neglect  or  refusal  forfeit  to  the  owner 
or  owners  of  such  wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead,  or  to  the  wharfinger 
thereof,  five  dollars,  to  be  recovered  with  costs  of  suit,  and  the  said 
master  or  owner  and  ow^ners  shall  in  addition  thereto  be  liable  for  all 
the  damage  caused  by  any  such  ballast  falling  into  the  slip  or  water, 
to  be  recovered  in  the  name  or  names  of  the  owner,  or  owners  or 
"wharfinger  of  such  wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead. 

§  10.  If  any  w^harf,  pier  or  bulkhead  in  either  of  the  said  cities, 
shall  be  incumbered  with  lumber  or  any  other  article,  so  as  to  in- 
commode the  loading  or  unloading  of  ships  or  vessels,  or  the  passing 
and  repassing  of  carts,  the  owner,  or  owners  or  wharfinger  of  such 
wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead  may  give  notice  to  any  owner,  factor  or 
agent  of  such  lumber  or  other  articles  to  remove  the  same,  and  in 
case  of  the  absence  of  such  owner  or  owners,  a  WTitten  notice  to 
remove  su^h  lumber  or  other  articles  may  be  left  at  the  place  of 
business  or  residence  of  the  owner  or  ovv^ners  of  such  lumber  or  other 
articles,  or  if  no  owner  or  factor  of  such  lumber  or  other  articles 
can  after  diligent  search  and  inquiry  be  found,  such  written  notice 
may  be  affixed  in  a  conspicuous  place  on  such  lumber  or  other  arti- 
cles; and  if  after  such  notice  being  given  or  affixed  as  aforesaid 
such  lumber  or  other  articles  are  not  removed,  within  twenty-four 
hours,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  owner  or  owners  or  wharfinger  of 
such  wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead,  immediately  thereafter,  to  remove  such 
lumber  or  other  articles  to  some  suitable  place  or  building  and  to 
retain  them  until  the  charges  of  their  removal  and  storage  shall  be 
paid,  and  if  such  charges  shall  not  be  paid  within  a  reasonable  time, 
it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  owner  or  owners  or  wharfinsrer  of  such 
wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead,  to  advertise  such  lumber  or  other  articles 
for  sale,  and  to  sell  the  same  at  public  auction,  to  the  highest  bid- 
der, and  after  retaining  the  charges  of  removal  and  storage  and  ex- 
penses of  sale,  he  or  they  shall  pay  the  surplus,  if  any,  to  the  right- 
ful owner  of  such  lumber  or  other  articles  on  demand. 


[ASSEMJILT 


§  11.  No  master  or  owner,  or  factor  of  any  ship  or  other  vesse), 
may  discharge  or  cause  to  be  discharged  therefrom,  any  ballast,  con- 
sisting of  earth,  gravel,  stones  or  sand,  or  any  rubbish  upon  any 
wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead  in  either  of  said  cities,  without  the  consent 
of  any  owner  or  wharfinger  of  such  wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead,  and  if 
any  master,  owner  or  factor  of  such  ship  or  other  vessel  from  which 
any  such  ballast  or  rubbish  shall  have  been  discharged  upon  any 
wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead  after  being  notified  in  writing  to  remove 
such  ballast  or  rubbish  so  discharged,  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  re- 
move the  same,  the  master  or  owner  or  owners  or  factor  of  such 
ship  or  vessel,  shall  be  liable  to  pay  the  owner  or  owners  or  wharf- 
inger of  such  wharf,  pier  or  bulkhead  therefor,  for  every  day  such 
ballast  or  rubbish  shall  remain  unremoved,  a  sum  equal  to  the  daily 
wharfage  of  such  ship  or  other  vessel  from  which  such  ballast  or  rub- 
bish shall  have  been  discharged.  And  after  such  notice  in  writing 
and  neglect  to  remove  said  ballast  or  rubbish,  the  owner  or  owners 
or  wharfinger  of  such  wharf,  pier  and  bulkhead,  may  cause  such  bal- 
last or  rubbish  to  be  removed  away  to  any  place,  and  may  recover 
the  expense  of  such  removal  with  costs  of  suit  from  such  master, 
owner  or  factor  of  such  ship  or  vessel  as  shall  have  been  so  notified 
to  remove  said  ballast  or  rubbish,  and  who  shall  have  neglected  to 
remove  the  same. 

§  12.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  owner  or  owners  and  parties  in- 
terested in  any  one  or  more  wharves,  piers  or  bulkheads  in  either  of 
said  cities,  and  of  the  wharfinger  of  such  wharves,  piers  and  bulk- 
heads, to  keep  such  wharves,  piers  and  bulkheads,  as  clean  as  can 
reasonably  be  done,  in  a  state  of  good  repair,  and  as  free  from  all 
incumbrance  of  lumber  and  other  articles  that  may  incommode  the 
loading  and  unloading  of  ships  and  vessels,  or  the  passing  and  re- 
passing of  carts,  as  can  reasonably  be  done. 

§  13.  All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  with  this  act  are 
hereby  repealed,  so  far  as  the  same  are  inconsistent  with  the  pro 
visions  of  this  act. 


(C.  ) 


statements  laid  by  the  petitioners  be/ore  the  committee,  relative  to 
values  and  revenues  of  certain  piers  and  slips. 

Pier  No.  1,  with  all  its  improvements  and  water  rights,  which  are 
the  most  extensive  of  any  in  the  city,  is  said  to  have  been  sold 
by  the  common  council  to  Mr.  Vanderbilt  for  about  $40,000,  and  by 
him  re-sold  to  Messrs.  Stevens  for  a  small  advance  on  that  sum. 
The  pier  and  its  improvements,  including  the  water  Iront  bulkheads, 
have  cost  either  the  city  or  the  lessees  of  the  same,  some  two  thou- 
sand dollars  over  and  above  what  they  have  been  sold  for,  whilst 
the  vast  water  property  connected  with  it  has  been  set  down  in  the 
sale  as  possessing  no  value  in  itself.  The  pier  and  its  improvements 
are  all  now  in  first  rate  order,  large  sums  for  repairs  having,  within 
a  short  period,  been  expended  on  them.  The  following  are  some  of 
the  items  expended  in  the  erection  of  the  said  pier  and  its  append- 
ages, they  do  not  include  the  large  amount  expended  from  year  to 
year  in  keeping  them  in  repair,  namely  :  The  front  bulkhead  to 
form  a  butment  for  the  pier,  125  feet  in  length  at  $50  per  running 
foot,  $6,25f>.  Pier  outside  of  West-street,  $20,000  ;  offices  and 
covering  on  pier,  $3,100.  Small  piers  and  drawbridges  inside 
West-street,  $3,300.  Bulkhead  inside  of  West-street,  from  which 
the  small  piers  and  drawbridges  are  put  out,  say  200  feet  in  length, 
including  also  the  paving  and  flagging  the  same,  &c.,  say  $9,000. 
All  but  the  last  item  are  set  down  at  prices  less  than  the  real  cost, 
the  last  cannot  be  deffinitely  ascertained  ;  it  is  believed  however  to 
have  cost  in  all  at  least  the  sum  mentioned.  One  reason  why  its 
cost  cannot  be  ascertained  is  that  in  consequence  of  its  having  been 
done  improperly  at  first  it  has  had  to  undergo  continued  repairs  and 
propings  at  a  large  cost  to  the  city.  If  a  proper  bulkhead  or  butt- 
ment  had  been  sunk  at  first  it  would  have  cost  $8,000,  without  the 
paving  and  flagging  on  its  surface. 

If  that  pier  and  appendages  were  thrown  open  to  the  public,  and 
the  vessels  using  it  had  to  pay  the  present  legal  rates  of  wharfage 
only,  the  whole  would  not  produce  more  than  $2,500  a  year  in  the 
gross,  one  third  of  which  would  have  to  be  used  to  pay  expense  of 
repairs,  collection,  &c.    The  pier  has  produced  the  city  twice  that 


14 


(Assembly 


amount,  at  least,  by  the  city  renting  it  to  certain  wSteamboat  lines, 
and  giving  to  them  the  exclusive  right  to  use  it. 

Pier  JV"o.  5,  Jforth  River, 

Whole  cost  of  the  improvements  consisting  of  a  pier 
621  feet  long  by  40  wide  and  its  proportion  of  bulk- 
head,   $35,200  00 

Receipts  for  9  years  ending  February  1, 

1849,   $23,578  69 

Expenditures  during  same  period  for  or- 
dinary repairs,  taxes,  &c.,   4,887  77 

$18,690  92 


Nett  average  yearly  dividend  to  owners,  say  5J  per  cent. 

Pier  5  comprises  an  area  of  54  water  lots,  each  25  by  100  feet. 
A  considerable  portion,  say  three-fifths  of  said  pier  is  now  in  a  state 
of  rapid  decay,  and  wiJl  have  to  be  repaired  in  the  course  of  the 
year  at  a  heavy  expense.  The  inner  portion  of  the  slips  on  each 
side  has  shoaled  or  filled  up  ten  feet  within  the  last  nine  years,  and 
now  requires  excavating  to  admit  large  vessels  at  low  water. 

Pier  JVb.  6,  JVorth  River. 

"Whole  cost  of  the  improvements,  consisting  of  a  pier 
618  feet  long  by  40  broad,  and  its  proportion  of 
bulkhead,   $33,157  00 

Receipts  for  9  years  ending  February  1, 

1849,   $20,076  76 

Expenditures  during  same  period  tor  ordi- 
nary repairs,  taxes,  &,c.,   -      4,464  47 

$15,412  29 


Net  yearly  average  dividend  to  owners,  say  4|  per  cent. 

.Pier  6  comprises  an  area  of  45  water  lots,  each  25  by  100  feet, 
and  is  in  pretty  much  the  same  state  as  to  soundness  as  pier  5.  The 
^water  at  the  head  is  shoaler  than  it  is  at  pier  5. 


No.  162  I 


15 


These  piers  are  set  down  as  among  the  best  in  the  city  as  to  size, 
location  and  depth  of  water.  They  are  planked  over  their  whole 
surface. 

Pier  JYo,  10,  north  half  of  9  and  south  half  of  11,  JYorth  River, 

Forming  two  entire  basins.  Pier  9  is  321  feet  long,  30  wide  ;  pier 
10  is  300  feet  long  by  30  wide,  and  pier  11  is  619  feet  long  by 
40  wide.    The  water  front  of  the  whole  is  263  feet. 

Whole  cost  of  the  improvements,   $38,550  00 

Receipts  for  9  years,  ending  February  1, 

1849,  $27,166  19 

Expenditures  during  the  same  period  for 

ordinary  repairs,  taxes,  &c.   6,129  78 

$21,036  41 


Net  average  yearly  dividend  5|  per  cent. 

These  piers  are  in  a  good  state  of  repair,  but  the  slips  require 
immediate  excavation. 

The  above  estimates  I  have  prepared  from  my  books  principally, 
and  believe^  them  to  be  correct. 

JAMES  CRUIKSHANK, 

Wharfinger  of  said  piers. 

The  other  piers  under  my  charge  in  the  vicinity  of  the  above, 
have  not  produced  as  large  a  revenue  as  the  above,  except  when 
rented  to  steamboat  lines,  and  the  exclusive  right  to  occupy  therff 
obtained  from  the  corporation,  in  which  cases -they  produce  a  much 
larger  revenue,  say  from  one-third  to  one-half  more,  than  they  would 
if  thrown  open.  • 

Since  the  above  estimates  were  prepared,  piers  5  and  6  have  pro- 
duced a  larger  revenue  than  usual,  which  would  in  a  very  slight 
degree  add  to  the  above  percentage. 

Pier  No.  5,  North  river,  was  extended  out  a  little  over  one-third 
of  its  present  length  in  the  forepart  of  the  season  of  the  year  1848, 
at  an  expense  of  nearly  $11,000.  The  receipts  and  expenditures  go 
down  to  the  1st  of  February,  1849.    Undoubtedly  the  pier  brings 


16 


[Assembly 


more  now  than  it  did  before  it  was  extended,  say  one-third,  as  three 
vessels  of  large  size  now  fill  up  one  side  ;  formerly  two  filled  it  up. 
We  must  keep  in  view  that  if  the  receipts  of  a  pier  newly  extended, 
be  large,  so  also  are  the  expenditures  in  consequence  of  that  exten- 
sion. All  the  traffic  on  the  old  portion  from  the  vessels  occupying 
the  new  brings  no  income  to  the  old.  Since  the  extension  of  pier  5 
the  entire  sheathing  consisting  of  4-inch  plank,  has  been  entirely  used 
up,  although  it  had  been  laid  just  before  and  up  near  the  head  of 
the  said  pier,  we  have  sheathed  it  over  the  second  time,  so  immense 
has  been  the  run  of  horses  over  it,  and  so  rapid  its  dectruction. 

Pier  No.  6  was  lengthened  or  extended  out  in  the  summer  of  the 
same  year,  (1848)  and  its  receipts  and  expenditures  also  go  down  to 
Feb.  1,  1849.  It  did  not  cost  as  much  to  extend  as  pier  No.  5  by 
say  $2,500.  The  same  remarks  will  apply  to  it  as  to  pier  5  with 
some  abatement  in  relation  to  its  rapid  destruction.  It  does  not 
appear  to  have  worn  away  so  rapidly  at  its  head  as  pier  5. 

Piers  No.  9  and  10  have  not  been  extended.  Pier  11  was  extended 
in  the  fall  of  1848.  The  receipts  and  expenditures  of  those  piers 
also  go  down  to  Feb.  1,  1848.  J.  C. 

JVew-York,  March,  1850. 


List  of  vessels  lying  at  Piers  9  and  10,  East  River,  March  20thf 
1850,  with  the  rates  of  wharfage  that  each  respectively  pay. 


Tons. 

Per  day. 

Proposed 

Bark 

Rosina,  • 

291 

.56J 

.80 

Bark 

Harmony, 

310 

$1.25 

$1.80 

Bark 

Panchita, 

233 

50 

70 

Bark 

Marmora, 

340 

1.25 

1.80 

Bark 

Macedonia, 

280 

56 

SO 

Brig 

Nenuphar, 

190 

88 

1.20 

Brig 

Abeona, 

34« 

75 

1.00 

Brig 

Emeline, 

220 

1,00 

1.40 

Brig 

Jean  Georges, 

173 

87 

1.20 

Brig 

Due  Sorelle, 

180 

88 

1.20 

Brig 

Galveston, 

190 

44 

.60 

Brig 

Algonquin, 

210 

50 

.70 

Brig 

August, 

120 

75 

1.00 

Brig 

Frances^ 

149 

38 

.50 

Brig 

Germ, 

140 

75 

1.00 

Sch. 

Col.  Satterley, 

240 

1.00 

1.40 

No.  162.] 


17 


Sch.  John  Q.  Adams,  190            87  1.20 

Sch.  M.  M.  Klotts,  190            44  .60 

Sch.  H.  B.  Foster,  98  31  .40 

Sch.  Pavillion,  60  31  .35 

Sch.  Cinderilla,  60  63  .70 

Sch.  Lewis,  190  87  1.20 

Sch.  Louisa,  180  44  .60 

Barge  Ella,  130  38  .50 


$16.57  $22.65 

Present  rates  of  24  vessels  now  at  piers  9  and  10,  East 

river,  and  in  basins  formed  by  said  piers,   $16.67 

Add  one-third,  •   5.52^ 


$22.09J 

Proposed  rates  of  same  vessels,   $22.65 


9 


[Assembly,  No.  162.] 


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[Assembly 


PUBLIC  WHARVES,  PIERS  AND  SLIPS. 

West  Pier,  Whitehall  Slip,  and  the  L., 
Including  a  small  middle  pier,  bulkhead,  and  half  of 

the  east  pier  of  Whitehall  slip,   $30,000  00 

Exchange  Slip. 

Comprehending  half  the  pier  on  the  west  side,  bulk- 
head on  the  south  side  of  the  street,  and  half  the 
east  pier,   12,000  00 

Old  Albany  Basin  or  Lent'' s  Basin. 

Comprehending  the  half  of  the  west  pier,  and  the  L 
on  the  west  side  of  said  basin,  the  bulkhead  on  the 
south  side  of  South-street,  and  half  the  pier  and 
the  whole  of  the  L  on  the  east  side  of  said  basin,, .      30,000  00 

Coenties  Slip. 
Comprehending  the  bulkhead  on  the  west  side,  extend- 
ing from  the  south  side  of  Water-street  to  the  south 
side  of  South-street,  and  half  the  pier  on  the  west 
thereof,  the  bulkhead  on  th^  south  line  of  Water- 
street,  also  the  bulkhead  at  the  east  side  of  the  slip, 
and  half  the  pier  on  the  east  side  of  the  slip,  includ-  * 
ing  the  L  or  middle  pier  of  the  said  slip,   130,000  00 

Old  Slip. 

Comprehending  the  bulkhead  on  the  west  side,  from 
Front-street  to  the  southerly  line  of  South-street, 
the  bulkhead  on  Front-street,  also  the  bulkhead  on 
the  east  side  of  the  slip  from  Front  to  the  southerly 
side  of  South-street,  including  half  the  pier  on  the 
east  side,  and  including  the  water-right  on  the  west 
side  of  the  slip  below  South-street,   20,000  00 

Coffee- House  Slip, 
Comprehending  the  bulkhead  from  Front-street  to  the 
southerly  side  of  South-street,  the  bulkhead  on 
Front-street,  also  the  bulkhead  on  the  east  side  of 
the  slip  from  Front-street  to  the  southerly  line  of 
South-street,  including  all  the  water-rights,   16,000  00 


No.  162.] 


21 


Fly-Market  Slip. 

Comprehending  half  the  piers  on  the  east  and  west 

sides  and  bulkhead  on  Soutk-street  and  ferry  stairs,.       15,000  00 

Burling  Slip. 
Comprehending  the  bulkhead  on  the  west  side  from 
Front  to  the  southerly  side  of  South-street,  the 
bulkhead  on  Front-street,  also  the  bulkhead  on  the 
easterly  side  from  Front  to  the  southerly  side  of 
South-street,  including  the  half  of  each  of  the  piers 
on  the  east  and  west  side  of  said  slip,   30,000  00 

Crane  Wharf  Reservation. 

A  plot  of  ground  on  the  west  side  of  Crane  Wharf,' 

extending  to  the  southerly  side  of  South-street,. . . .        8,257  50 

Peck  Slip. 

Comprehending  the  half  of  the  west  pier,  bulkhead  on 
South-street  to  middle  pier,  bulkhead  from  South  to 
Front-street  on  the  west  side,  bulkhead  on  Front- 
street,  also  bulkhead- from  Front  to  the  southeasterly 
side  of  South-street  on  the  east  side,  and  half  the 
east  pier  on  the  east  side  of  said  slip,  including  the 
L  or  middle  pier  of  said  slip,   75,000  00 

Roosevelt-street  Slip. 
Comprehending  the  water  to  the  eastward  of  the  west- 
erly line  of  Roosevelt-street,  the  bulkhead  on  Front- 
street,  and  half  the  easterly  pier  of  said  slip,   8,000  Oq 

JYew  or  James  Slip. 
Comprehending  the  east  half  of  pier  lately  belonging 
to  Messrs.  Minturn  &  Chapin  and  others,  the  bulk- 
head on  Front-street  to  the  middle  pier,  the  bulkhead 
on  the  westerly  side  of  said  slip  to  Water-street, 
the  bulkhead  on  Water-street,  also  the  bulkhead  on 
the  east  side  of  said  slip  to  the  southeasterly  side  of 
Front-street,  and  half  the  pier  on  the  east  side  of 
said  slip,  including  the  middle  pier,   60,000  00 


22 


[Assembly 


Oliver-street  Slip. 

Comprehending  the  east  half  of  the  pier  at  the  foot  of 
Oliver-street,  and  the  bulkhead  on  Front-street,  to 
the  pier  on  the  west  side  of  Catharine  slip,  includ- 
ing the  west  half  of  said  pier,   20,000  00 

Market  Slip. 

The  bulkhead  on  the  west  side  to  Water-street,  the 
bulkhead  on  Water-street,  the  west  half  of  the  pier 
on  the  east  side,  and  the  whole  of  the  pier  on  the 
west  side  of  said  slip,   16,000  00 

Pike  Slip. 

Comprehending  the  bulkhead  on  Water-street,  and 

half  of  the  east  and  west  piers  of  said  slip,   16,000  00 

Rutger^s  Slip. 
Comprehending  the  bulkhead  on  Water-street,  and 

half  the  east  and  west  pier  of  said  slip,   18,000  C 

Gouverneur  Slip. 

A  piece  of  land  bounded  on  the  west  by  lands  granted 
to  Nicholas  Romaine,  on  the.  north  by  Water-street, 
on  the  east  by  ,  on  the  south  by  slip, 
comprehending  the  slip  in  front,   9,000  0 

Broome-street  Slip. 

Comprehending  the  bulkhead  and  twenty-five  feet  in 
breadth  of  the  pier  on  the  south  side  of  Broome- 
street,  the  whole  length  of  said  pier;  also,  the  bulk- 
head on  Broome  and  Mangin-street,  including  the 
ferry  stairs,   6,000  00 

Rivington  and  Stanton  Slip. 

Comprehending  the  wharf  or  pier  on  the  south  side  of 
Rivington-street;  on  the  west,  the  bulkhead  on  Riv- 
ington-street,  extending  to  and  including  the  bulk- 
head on  Stanton-street;  also  including  the  wharf  or 
pier  on  the  north  side  of  said  slip,  excepting  the 
northerly  half  of  the  pier  below  Mangin-street, . . .  •      18,000  00 


No.  162.] 


23 


Marketfield- street  Slip. 

Comprehending  the  wharf  at  the  foot  of  Marketfield- 
street,  including  the  bulkhead  and  slip  on  the  south 
side  of  the  slip,  or  so  much  thereof  as  belongs  to  the 
corporation  of  the  city  of  New-York,  

Mhaiiy  Basin, 

Comprehending  a  bulkhead  near  West- street,  the  north 
half  of  the  pier,  and  the  whole  of  the  L  on  the  south 
side  thereof,  and  the  south  half  of  the  pier  on  the 
north  side  thereof,  

Corporation  Basins  at  the  Washington  Market. 

Commencing  at  the  southwesterly  corner  of  Dey  and 
West-street,  and  extending  to  the  northwesterly  cor- 
ner of  Vesey-street,  comprehending  and  including 
the  several  bulkheads  between  the  said  streets;  the 
whole  of  the  pier  and  L  at  the  foot  of  Dey-street ; 
also,  the  whole  of  the  pier  at  the  foot  of  Partition- 
street;  also,  the  middle  pier  opposite  the  market; 
also  the  bulkhead  on  Vesey-street,  and  the  whole 
of  a  small  pier  projecting  into  the  slip;  also,  the 
half  of  th^pier  at  the  foot  of  Vesey-street,   150,000  00 

Duane  Basins^  at  Duane  Market. 
Commencing  at  the  southwesterly  corner  of  Chambers 
and  West-street,  and  extending  to  the  northwesterly 
corner  of  Jay  and  West-street,  comprehending  and 
including  the  several  bulkheads  within  the  said 
bounds;  also,  the  pier  and  L  opposite  the  market; 
also  the  pier  between  Duane  and  Jay-street ;  also, 
half  the  pier  and  T  at  the  foot  of  Jay-street,   60,000  00 

Canal-street  Basins, 
Commencing  at  a  point  on  West-street,  255  feet  north- 
erly from  the  northwest  corner  of  Watts  and  West- 
street,  and  extending  to  a  point  where  the  south  pier 
of  Spring-street  basin  intersects  West-street,  compre- 
hending the  bulkhead  on  Washington-street  and 
Canal-street ;  also,  the  wharf  on  the  south  side  of 


4,000  00 


28,000  00 


24 


[Assembly 


said  basin  ;  also  the  wharves  in  front  in  West-street, 
adjoining  northerly  the  property  of  the  late  Lewis 
Lorton,   10,000  00 

Spring-street  Basin. 
Comprehending  the  bulkhead  on  West-street  and  the 
whole  of  the  north  and  south  piers  and  L  of  said 
basin,   40,000  00 

Bulkhead  and  Reservation  between  King  and  Charlton-street. 

Commencing  at  the  southwesterly  corner  of  Charlton 
and  West-street,  and  extending  to  the  northwesterly 
corner  of  King  and  West-street,  comprehending  and 
including  the  bulkhead  and  water  reservation,  ....       10,000  00 
Bulkhead  and  Wharf  at  the  foot  of  Hammond-street, 

Commencing  at  the  southwesterly  corner  of  Hammond 
and  West-street,  and  extending  to  the  northwesterly 
corner  of  said  street,  comprehending  and  including 
the  bulkhead,  wharf,  and  ferry  stairs  on  said  pre- 
mises,  2,000  00 

Manhattanville  Bulkhead  and  Reservation, 

Commencing  at  a  point  on  Hudson  river  where  the 
Harlem  commons  line  intersects  or  crosses  the  bulk- 
head, and  extending  from  thence  in  a  northerly  direc- 
tion to  a  certain  northerly  point  at  high  water  mark, 
about  340  feet  north  of  the  northerly  side  of  Schieffe- 
lin-street,  being  a  reservation  in  front  of  the  grants 
to  T.  Buckley,  J.  Schieifelin,  J.  Bird,  and  J.  B. 
Lawrence,  including  the  bulkhead  and  wharf  there- 
on, making  a  front  on  Hudson  river  of  about  900 
feet,   2,000  00 

$842,257  50 

We,  the  subscribers,  certify  that  we  have,  by  direction  of  the  hon- 
orable the  corporation  of  the  city  of  New- York,  made  the  foregoing 
appraisement  of  their  property  to  the  best  of  our  skill  and  judgment. 

JOHN  TARGEE, 
WILLIAM  S.  SMITH, 
JONATHAN  THOMPSON, 
JfeW'Yorkj  August  19,  1820.  Appraisers. 


No.  162.] 


25 


STATEMENT  OF  VALUATIONS  OF  CITY  WHARF  PRO- 
PERTY, SUBMITTED  TO  THE  COMMON  COUNCIL  IN 
1838,  BY  D.  D.  WILLIAMSON,  COMPTROLLER. 

REAL  ESTATE,  WHARVES,  PIERS  AND  SLIPS  IN  THE  EAST  RIVER. 

Whitehall  Slip. 
The  whole  of  pier  No.  1,  a  small  pier  in  the  slip,  west 


side  of  pier  No.  2,  and  bulkhead  along  the  whole 

front,   $40,000  00 

Broad-street  to  the  east  side  of  Coenties  slip,  the  east 
side  of  pier  No.  4,  the  whole  of  piers  Nos.  5  and  6, 
the  middle  pier  in  Coenties  slip,  the  west  side  of  pier, 
east  side  of  slip  and  bulkhead  along  whole  front, . ,    ^00,000  00 

Old  Slip, 

The  bulkhead  across  the  slip  and  west  half  of  pier  east 

side  of  slip,   15,000  00 

Coffee-House  Slip, 

The  east  half  of  pier  west  side  of  slip  and  bulkhead 

across  the  slip,   18,000  00 

Maiden  Lane. 

The  east  half  of  west  pier,  bulkhead  across  the  slip  and 

west  half  of  east  pier,   22,000  00 

Burling  Slip  to  Beekman-streef, 


The  east  half  of  pier  west  side  of  Burling  slip,  the 
whole  pier  east  side  of  slip,  the  pier  at  foot  of  Ful- 
ton-street, the  west  half  of  the  pier  at  foot  of  Beek- 
man-street,  and  the  bulkhead  along  whole  front,. , .     140,000  00 

Peck  Slip. 

The  east  half  of  west  pier,  the  whole  of  middle  pier, 
the  west  half  of  the  east  pier,  and  the  whole  of  the 
bulkhead  between,   100,000  00 


[Assembly,  No.  162.] 


4 


26  [  Assembly 

Roosevelt  Slip  to  James-street. 
The  east  half  of  India  wharf,  the  middle  pier,  the  pier 
at  the  west  side  of  James-street,  the  west  half  of  pier 
on  east  side  of  street  and  bulkhead  along  whole 
front,   100,000  00 

Oliver-street  to  Catharine-street. 

The  east  half  of  pier  at  Oliver-street,  the  whole  of 
west  pier  and  west  half  of  east  pier  at  Catharine- 
street,  and  bulkhead  along  the  whole  front,   65,000  00 

Market-street. 
The  whole  pier  west  side  of  slip,  the  whole  of  pier 

east  side,  and  bulkhead  across  slip,   60,000  00 

Pike-sireet. 

The  whole  pier  west  side,  the  whole  pier  east  side,  and 
bulkhead  between,  and  bulkhead  in  front  of  city 
property,   60,0Q0  00 

Rutgers-street. 
The  whole  of  west  pier,  bulkhead  around  the  slip,  and 

whole  of  east  pier,   65,000  00 

Je^er  son-street. 

The  whole  pier  at  foot  of  street,   15,000  00 

Clinton-street. 

The  whole  pier  at  foot  of  street,   15,000  00 

Montgomery-street. 
The  whole  west  side  of  bulkhead,   2,000  00 

Gouvemeur-street. 
The  whole  bulkhead  around  the  slip  and  pier  in  the 

slip,  i   20,000  00 

Walnut-street. 

The  east  half  of  west  pier,  the  west  half  of  east  pier, 
and  bulkhead  between,   12,000  00 


No.  162. 1  27 


Grand-street. 

The  bulkhead  across  the  slip,   5,000  00 

Broome-street. 

The  bulkhead  across  the  slip,   5,000  00 

Delancey-street. 

The  north  half  of  south  pier,  the  south  half  of  north 

pier,  and  bulkhead  betweea,    10,000  00 

Rivington-street  to  Stanion-street, 
The  whole  pier  in  the  slip  and  bulkhead  around  the 

slip  and  to  Stanton-street,   15,000  00 

Twenty-third  to  Twenty-eighth  street. 

The  whole  front  of  bulkhead,   50,000  00 

Jit  Harlaem. 

The  pier  and  bulkhead  at  bridge,   4,000  00 

At  Brooklyn. 

The  bulkhead  and  two  piers  at  Fulton-street,   35,000  00 

«^              "             Main-street,   90,000  00 

At  Williamsburgh. 

The  bulkhead  and  two  piers  at  Grand-street,   15,000  00 

Total  value,   $1,098,000  00 


REAL  ESTATE.  WHARVES,  PIERS  AND  SLIPS  IN  THE  NORTH  RIVER. 

Battery  Place. 

The  pier  at  foot  of  same,  and  23  feet  of  bulkhead,. . .  $40,000  00 

Albany-street  to  Cedar-street. 

The  whole  pier  foot  of  Albany-street,  the  middle  pier 
in  slip,  and  south  half  of  pier  foot  of  Cedar-street, 

and  bulkhead  between,   45,000  00 


28  [Assembly 

Courtland- street. 
The  north  half  of  south  pier,  the  south  half  of  north 

pier,  and  bulkhead  between,   20,000  00 

Bey-street  to  Vesey-street. 
The  whole  pier  foot  of  Dey-street,  the  pier  foot  of 
Fulton-street,  the  middle  pier,  the  south  half  of  pier 
foot  of  Vesey-street,  and  bulkhead  along  front, . . .  •      50,000  00 

Warren-sireet. 

The  whole  pier  at  foot  of  street,   20,000  00 

Chambers-street  to  Jay-street. 
The  whole  pier  foot  of  Chambers-street,  the  pier  south 
side  of  Duane-street,  the  pier  north  side  of  ditto, 
and  south  half  of  pier.  Jay-street,  and  bulkhead 
along  the  whole  front,   80,000  00 

Harrison-street. 

The  north  half  of  pier  and  whole  of  L  foot  of  street,. ,        9,000  00 

Franklin-street. 

The  whole  pier  foot  of  street,   15,000  00 

Morth  Moore-street. 
The  whole  pier  foot  of  street,   15,000  00 

Beach-street. 

The  whole  pier  foot  of  street,   15,000  00 

Vestry-street, 

The  whole  pier  foot  of  street,   10,000  00 

Watts-street. 

The  whole  pier  foot  of  street,   15,000  00 

Canal-street  to  Spring-street. 

The  pier  and  L  in  front  of  country  market,  the  pier 
and  L  foot  of  Canal-street,  the  pier  and  L  foot  of 
Spring-street,  and  bulkhead  between,   60,000  00 

The  pier  between  Spring  and  Charlton-streets,   13,000  00 


Charlton- street  to  King- street. 
The  pier  and  L  foot  of  Charlton-street,  the  pier  and  L 

foot  of  King-street,  and  bulkhead  between,   35,000  00 

CI  arkson- street. 

The  pier  and  T,  foot  of  street,   15,000  00 

Barrow-street  to  Charles-street 
The  pier  and  T  foot  of  Christopher,  the  pier  and  T 
foot  of  Amos,  the  pier  and  T  foot  of  Charles,  and 
bulkhead  from  south  side  of  Barrow  to  Hammond's 

Lane,   60,000  00 

Hammond-street. 

The  pier  and  T  foot  of  street,   12,000  00 

The  bulkhead  from  Great  Kill  road  to  Twelfth  street,  56,000  00 

Timber  Basin. 

Extending  from  Thirtieth-street  to  Forty-second-street,  70,000  00 

Manhattanville. 

The  pier  at  foot  of  130th-street,  and  reservation,   10,000  00 

9  $665,000  CO 


30 


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CO 


^  > 

S  6 

•73  (11 


NOTE. 


It  is  due  to  Mr.  Cruickshank,  who  furnished  the  statements  in  the 
^  appendix  relative  to  the  cost  and  income  of  certain  whaif  property, 
to  say,  that  he  submitted  them,  not  (as  the  committee  supposed,  un- 
til too  late  to  make  the  correction)  for  publication.  They  were  pre- 
pared in  some  haste,  from  extracts  f^om  his  books,  while  before  the 
committee  ;  and,  although,  as  he  states,  strictly  correct  in  relation  to 
the  receipts  and  expenditures,  and  the  condition  of  the  piers  and  slips, 
do  not  convey  a  correct  view  of  the  yearly  per  centage  derived, — a 
fact  which  subsequently  occurred  to  him, — but  it  was  then  too  late  to 
make  up  more  detailed  statements  in  time  for  publication. 


I  Assembly,  No.  162 


5 


lEx  IGtbrta 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


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